Energylinx News

Our Power, an energy supplier with about 38,000 domestic customers, has ceased to trade.

Our Power is the 10th energy supplier to go bust in the last 12 months.

Under Ofgem's safety net, the energy supply of Our Power's customers will continue, and pre-payment meters can be topped up as normal. The outstanding credit balances of domestic customers will be protected.

Ofgem will choose a new supplier to take on Our Power's customers as quickly as possible. This supplier will contact these customers shortly after being appointed.

Ofgem's advice to Our Power's customers in the meantime is:

• Do not switch to another energy supplier.
• Take a meter reading ready for when your new supplier contacts you.

This will make the process of transferring customers over to the chosen supplier, and paying back their outstanding credit balances, as smooth as possible.

Philippa Pickford, Ofgem's director for future retail markets, said:

"Our message to energy customers with Our Power is there is no need to worry, as under our safety net we will make sure your energy supplies are secure and your credit balance is protected."

"Ofgem will now choose a new supplier for you, ensuring you get the best deal possible. Whilst we're doing this our advice is to 'sit tight' and don't switch. You can rely on your energy supply as normal. We will update you when we have chosen a new supplier, who will then get in touch about your new tariff."

"We have seen a number of supplier failures over the last year and our safety net procedures are working as they should to protect customers."

On the back of the Energy Price Cap, Npower has launched a new tariff that will always be 6% lower than the Ofgem Default tariff cap.

The initial prices are based on a 6% discount to the Ofgem Default tariff cap prices effective from 1st January 2019. Ofgem will review the cap every 6 months. The next review is in February and will go live on 1st of April.

Prices can go up or down to reflect the changes to the energy price cap, but any customers on Npower's Cap Tracker 2020 will always be charged 6% less than the cap prices. Npower will notify any customers about any changes to their energy prices.

What is the Energy Price Cap?

The energy price cap will limit how much energy suppliers can charge customers per unit of energy. Ofgem has calculated what energy suppliers needs to spend to get energy to your home and based the cap on that.

Who is Npower?

Npower is one of Britain's "Big Six" energy suppliers, and is part of the Innogy group, one of Europe's leading electricity and gas companies.

Npower serves around 4.84 million residential and business accounts with electricity and gas.

Key Features of Npower's Cap Tracker 2020

• With Npower's Cap Tracker September 2020 tariff and your prices will be 6% lower than the Ofgem Default tariff cap until 30th September 2020.
• Variable discount off your standing charge and unit rate, depending on how much energy you use, when paying for both electricity and gas by Direct Debit.
• No early exit fees.
• Customer will receive a discount for paying by Direct Debit. Direct debits will be reviewed every 6 months to ensure customers are paying the correct amount.

Npower's Cap Tracker 2020 is available for switching through Energylinx. You can either do a comparison on our website or by calling 0800 849 7077. Our contact centre is open Monday to Friday 9am - 6pm and Saturday 9am - 3pm.

Energy UK has announced the electricity switching figures for 2018 and it was a record-breaking year.

To mark the start of Big Energy Saving Week, Energy UK has said that 5.8 million customers switched over the 12-months of 2018 - a 6% increase on the number of switches that were arranged in 2017.

This means 1 in 5 households switched electricity suppliers during 2018, with nearly half a million energy switches arranged every month on average.

This continues the trend of year-on-year increases in energy switching and high levels of engagement, particularly when compared to other industries. A survey by GoCompare found that during 2017 energy was in top 3 switching sectors during 2017 with a 19% switching rate, ahead of broadband, mobile (both 11%).

In December alone, nearly half a million customers (464,378) switched supplier, up 10% on December 2017. The figures show that 21% of all switches in December went to small or mid-tier suppliers last month, with nearly 100,000 customers (98,962).

Consumers continue to have confidence in switching according to the latest research from the Energy Switch Guarantee - an industry initiative that makes switching simple, speedy and safe.

Lawrence Slade, chief executive of Energy UK, said:

"It is positive to see such high levels of energy switching - particularly when compared to other sectors - with one in five customers switching supplier in 2018. My hope remains that, with the recent introduction of the price cap, we don't see this element of competition undermined and switching levels fall, as is predicted in Ofgem's impact assessment.

"With winter in full swing, I urge everyone to get in touch with their supplier or have a look online to make sure they are on the best energy tariff for them, whether that be on price, service or green considerations. More importantly, as the temperatures fall, consumers should ensure their house is energy efficient - for example checking that it is well insulated - which is the best way to keep energy bills down in the long run."

Economy Energy, an energy supplier with about 235,000 domestic customers, has ceased to trade.

Economy Energy entered into the energy market in 2011.

Under Ofgem's safety net, Economy Energy's customer energy supply will remain unaffected and prepayment meters can be topped up as normal. If you currently have a credit balance with Economy Energy, this will be protected.

Ofgem will choose a new supplier to take on Economy Energy's customers as quickly as possible. This supplier will contact these customers shortly after being appointed.

Ofgem's advice to Economy Energy's customers in the meantime is:

1. Do not switch to another energy supplier.
2. Take a meter reading ready for when your new supplier contacts you.
3. This will make the process of transferring customers over to the chosen supplier, and paying back their outstanding credit balances, as smooth as possible.

Economy Energy, an energy supplier with about 235,000 domestic customers, has ceased to trade.

Under Ofgem's safety net, the energy supply of Economy Energy's customers will continue and prepayment meters can be topped up as normal. The outstanding credit balances of domestic customers will be protected.

Ofgem will choose a new supplier to take on Economy Energy's customers as quickly as possible. This supplier will contact these customers shortly after being appointed.

Original Story

The energy regulator, Ofgem, has issued a provisional order banning Economy Energy from taking on any new customers.

The Coventry based energy has also been banned from increasing existing customers' direct debits or asking for any one-off payments until the issues are resolved.

Before the ban can be lifted, Economy Energy must meet the following requirements:

The ban is initially in place for up to three months to allow Economy Energy to take steps to improve their customer service issues.

If Ofgem does not see any evidence that Economy Energy has attempted to make improvements within three months, they can extend the ban.

If Economy Energy fails to improve Ofgem can take steps to revoke its supply licence.

Anthony Pygram, director of conduct and enforcement, said:

"Ofgem is taking action to protect customers from suffering more harm from the unacceptable level of customer service provided by Economy Energy. We expect the supplier to take immediate action to rectify its failings or face having its ban extended.

"All suppliers are required to treat their customers fairly. Where they do not, Ofgem will take the necessary steps to ensure suppliers change their behaviour and to prevent further harm to customers."

The energy market is currently not working for consumers who remain loyal to their energy supplier.

More than half of UK households are on their energy suppliers expensive default tariff. On average, default tariffs are around £320 a year more than the cheapest market deal.

The current UK Government pledged to cap energy prices and in November, Ofgem announced that the energy price cap would be going ahead on the 1st of January 2019.

So, what does this mean? We've written a short guide to help you make sense of it.

What is the energy price cap, and will it affect me?

The energy price cap will limit how much energy suppliers can charge customers per unit of energy. Ofgem has calculated what energy suppliers needs to spend to get energy to your home. Although, Centrica (the parent company of British Gas) has raised a legal challenge. They argue that the energy price cap has not been calculated fairly and would cost them £70m in lost operating profits in the first quarter of 2019.

Your energy prices will be capped if you use a prepayment meter, get the government's Warm Home Discount and/or are on a 'standard variable' energy tariff you haven't chosen (default).

If you are currently on a fixed-term tariff, your prices won't be fixed but you are likely on a better value deal.

If you are currently on a standard variable tariff, then you could save more money by shopping around for a better deal.

How will I know if the energy price cap applies to me?

Your supplier can tell you if you are on an energy tariff impacting by the energy price cap. They must also inform you if your tariff changes in a way that could disadvantage you or if you are a tariff that is no longer available.

Do price caps limit the total amount of my energy bill?

No. You still must pay for the energy that you use. The energy price cap won't limit your total energy bill.

For example, you might use more energy in the winter, so your bill will be more money than it has been during the summer.

The cap is on the cost per unit used. You must still pay for every unit of energy that you use.

Will the price caps change?

Every six months Ofgem will work out how much it costs energy suppliers, on average, to get energy to customers. They will then revise the cap levels to reflect this to ensure you pay a fair price and protect you against overcharging.

Ofgem will review the current price cap level in February and it will be changed on April 1st.

Are there any cheaper energy tariffs?

Yes! Most fixed-term deals will be cheaper than the energy price cap tariffs.

If you are on an energy tariff that will be capped, you would benefit more by comparing energy suppliers and moving to a cheaper, fixed-price deal.

Energylinx offers a free and impartial comparison and switching service and we will be able to find the cheapest energy deal for your home. You can find out how much you could save by calling 0800 849 7077 or by visiting our website.

Daligas has launched two new gas tariffs; Daligas One Fix Flex 19 and Daligas One Standard Flex 19.

Both tariffs are for sale through the Energylinx website or by calling our energy advisors on 0800 849 7077.

Who is Daligas?

Daligas is an independent UK-based gas company, supplying both homes and businesses. Daligas try to keep single fuel switching hassle-free and only offer one fixed and one variable gas tariff at any given time.

Key Features of Daligas "One Fix Flex 19"

• Your gas prices are fixed for one year.
• You must pay by direct debit.
• There is an exit fee of £30 should you choose to leave the tariff early.

Key Features of Daligas "One Standard Flex 19"

• Gas prices are not fixed and can go up or down at any time.
• There is no end date to the tariff.
• There is no exit fee if you decide to switch energy suppliers.

Two of the UK's 'Big Six' energy suppliers, Npower and SSE, have said that they will no longer go ahead with their planned merger.

SSE has blamed "very challenging market conditions" for the decision.

Indications that the merger might collapse became apparent in November, only one month after it was given the final green light by the Competition and Markets Authority. Npower and SSE said they would have to renegotiate the deal after the official announcement of the government's new energy price cap.

Had the merger went ahead, it would have created the UK's second-biggest energy supplier.

Martin Hermann, retail chief operating officer of Innogy SE, which Npower is a part of, said: "Adverse developments in the UK retail market and regulatory interventions such as the price cap have had a significant impact on the outlook for the planned retail company.

"We negotiated intensively with SSE on adjustments to the transaction as announced in November 2017.

"Unfortunately, we could not reach an agreement that was acceptable for both sides. We are now assessing the different options for our British retail business."

The Energy Price Cap

More than half of the households in Great Britain are on their energy suppliers default tariff. This is because they have either never switched energy supplier or haven't done so recently.

In a bid to stop these customers from paying more than is necessary on their energy bills, the regulator Ofgem announced an energy price cap.

Ofgem's energy price cap will go live on 1st of January 2019. Energy suppliers will not be allowed to charge more than £1,137 a year for a "typical use"* customer.

Ofgem has claimed that the price cap will save 11 million customers an average of £76 a year on their gas and electricity bills.

Households on a default tariff could save money by comparing and switching to a cheaper energy deal, even after the energy price cap is introduced.

You can compare energy suppliers on Energylinx's website or by calling 0800 849 7077. One of our energy advisors will be able to find the best deal for you. We are open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and Saturday 9am to 3pm.

*A typical use customer is a medium user. According to Ofgem a medium user use 12,000kWh for gas and 3,100kWh for electricity. If your energy use is higher or lower than a typical user, then you will be charged accordingly.

New figures from Energy UK has shown that 633,238 households moved to a new electricity supplier in October.

This is 3% more than October 2017 and brings the total number of switches to nearly five million (4,917,486) for 2018 so far - up 6% on this point in last year's record-breaking year for energy switching. 27% (167,817) of all switches in October went to small and mid-tiers energy suppliers.
Rising Energy Costs

Wholesale energy prices have risen by at least 30% in 2018, with Ofgem recently signalling that the price cap that has to take effect on January 1st, 2019 will likely to increase as soon as April 2019 if the trend in rising costs continues.

It's more important than ever that you look carefully at the energy deals that could protect you from further energy price rises. It only takes a few minutes to compare energy suppliers and switch to a cheaper energy deal. You can do it online or by calling one of our energy advisors on 0800 849 7077.

Confidence in energy switching remains high with 9 in 10 consumers happy with the process according to research from the Energy Switch Guarantee, an initiative that promises UK households a speedy and secure energy switch. If an energy supplier is covered by The Energy Switch Guarantee, then you will see the logo under in the results page of your comparison. This should provide you with extra confidence that the process will be simple, speedy and safe.

Lawrence Slade, chief executive of Energy UK, said:

"With such a wide choice of suppliers, you can also look for one which best meets your expectations on things like customer service or green tariffs. Ultimately the best way to keep bills down is making sure your home is as efficient as possible, so I would urge consumers to ask their energy provider about energy efficiency measures which are proven to keep bills down."